I am Tamotsu Nomakuchi, and I became President of AIST this April. Until March, I was chairman of the board of an electric manufacturer, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation. My unpredicted appointment as President of AIST must have surprised not only the people who work at AIST but also those who watch AIST from the outside with interest and expectations. In fact, I myself am just as surprised as everybody else. How did I arrive at my decision to assume the post of President? I would like to start by explaining my views on innovation today, and its increasing importance for us.

After finishing my master's course in physics in 1965, I started working at Mitsubishi Electric Corporation. I was assigned to its research laboratory and ever since then, up until I became the president, I spent most of my time in the R&D departments, first as a researcher, then a manager, and later as an executive officer. When I first joined the company, Japan was still importing technology from the advanced countries of Europe and the United States. It was in the mid-80s that Japan began to have confidence in its technology, and even started overestimating itself so as to feel there was nothing more to learn from others. However, in the 90s the land bubble burst, and the economic stagnation called "the lost decade" of Japan started. It was a period when the confidence in our economy was shaken, affected by influences such as of the US pro-patent policy or of the rise of Korea and China.

Even during this stagnated period, however, there existed groups of corporations, a good example being the automobile manufacturers that established their firm technological foundation and continuously increased their presence worldwide. These companies emphasized their own characteristic technologies and intellectual properties, and this approach spread, leading to the economic re-growth period of Japan in the new century. We are presently in an economic crisis said to be unprecedented in history. I believe, however, that it could certainly be overcome by measures based on world-leading R&D, giving high priority in technology and intellectual property. It has been my conviction that in management which values technology and intellectual property, it is essential to rightly evaluate R&D human resources, to arrange the working environment to allow their creative activities, and to make possible a wide use of the outcomes. When I was company president, I deliberately supported and encouraged people engaged in R&D activities such as innovation. In present times when industrial competition is internationalized and global issues such as environmental problems are increasing, I always consider that such management could be meaningful and beneficial also for major national/public research institutes. This view is what probably led me to accept such a responsible position of AIST President, at the very last moment.

I believe my task is to lead and support AIST researchers so that they can produce abundant results that could make possible the sustainable development of Japan and our global community, as well as be widely useful for industry and business, regardless of size from small, medium to large enterprises.

Last May, at the symposium commemorating the launch of the academic journal of AIST, Synthesiology, I was given an opportunity to present a keynote lecture along with President Nakashima of Future University-Hakodate. In preparing for the lecture, I looked through the website of AIST, and pondered on the meaning of Synthesiology. I agreed with the views of Dr. Hiroyuki Yoshikawa, then President of AIST, explained in the premier issue, and I gave a lecture titled "Basic Research, Its Present–day Significance." What is presented as Type 2 Basic Research in his article sounds similar to what we traditionally refer to as "application research" or "objective basic research." Dr. Yoshikawa's argument that all research activities that aim at solving issues on a scientific level should be rightly considered as basic research impressed me, and I thought it to be indeed timely and persuasive.

To produce results which truly lead the world, enhancement of basic research is essential. The industry, however, is obliged to concentrate on product realization research and improvement research in order to survive the fierce business competition of global scale, and it has little reserve to go back and pursue basic research. The gist of my talk was that industry is looking with great expectations at advanced, leading and fundamental research results of AIST and of universities. Especially AIST, having the interdisciplinary research unit system, is able to conduct more comprehensive research than universities. Now we are in the time of open innovation, and of industry-academia–public institute collaboration. AIST, as a central player of such a time, must definitely take leadership.

I listed four different points of expectations for AIST at the end of my aforementioned lecture. They were: 1. to be the driving engine of leading R&D, anchoring the concept of Full Research, 2. to disseminate diversified research results worldwide, 3. to train and foster engineers and researchers who would link universities with businesses, 4. to challenge the issues of the 21^st century.

After joining AIST in April and after hearing of the varied activities of AIST, I have realized that there is an important point to be added to the list. That is: 5. to provide basic and fundamental knowledge which would contribute to the sustainable development of human society. I first realized, after becoming a member of AIST, that the 15 research institutes previously under the former Agency of Industrial Science and Technology, beginning with the Geological Survey of Japan established in 1882, had been scientifically and technologically fulfilling the roles "to observe", "to search" and "to create" for the modernization of Japan. Now that human interest spreads widely to the outer space and deep into the Earth, and materials we handle increase in variation, I feel that the mission and responsibility of AIST have grown even greater.

I would like to elaborate further on each of my points of expectations for AIST.

Firstly, concerning point 1, although I have not yet finished hearing of all the activities of the research units, I have realized that there is a high motivation of researchers overall for product realization. This, I think, shows the keen awareness of the predecessors including former President Yoshikawa who have seriously addressed issues at the time of, or even prior to, the establishment of AIST. In order to challenge difficult issues, research that goes back to the basics is indispensable, and in order to find reliable methods for realizing the end products, innovative collaboration with many researchers of diverse technological fields is essential. If this collaboration or synergy circle spreads not only within and outside AIST in Japan but also around the world, great outcomes could be anticipated.

Concerning diversified results of point 2, I believe, besides the obvious new products and systems, basic database, standards, and technical papers which sustain the industrial and social infrastructure are also excellent results. They may seldom be praised by people of the time, but I believe they have greater value than how they are appreciated superficially.

Concerning point 3, I feel that exchanging personnel, be it permanent or temporary, should be more active with universities and companies. I would like to make this an important assignment of the institute management in order to strengthen collaboration of AIST with the outside world, as well as to allow broad and flexible career planning options of researchers.

Concerning point 4, as issues become expanded in scale, symptomatic measures using the accumulated technologies may be necessary. However, I would like to emphasize a top-down approach with comprehensive viewpoints by AIST, which could seldom be taken in private sectors. Moreover, AIST can transmit its research results and contribute in establishing a guideline to solve new issues such as the environmental problems.

New technologies are born every day and they are integrated with others, opening a new horizon of science and technology. Issues that need to be addressed on a global scale are increasing, and the societal systems are in transition. Since AIST strives for the realization of a society of sustainable development, the opportunities for our contribution, I believe, are enormous, and our responsibility is significant.